Fractured Focus and Magical Manifesting

Fractured Focus and Magical Manifesting

I have noticed in the last few days how hard it has been to focus and finding that when I want to focus on one thing, something else seems to come out of nowhere to take my attention. I have had to take extra steps to make sure that I am single-focused when I am doing anything. I find I tend to multi-task when doing anything, especially at work. 

Multi-tasking has been celebrated by people everywhere that they got more done than they did the day before because they did more than one thing at a time. Right now I am listening to the audiobook, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor as I am writing this. It is hard to focus when I am multi-tasking.

I have to make a side note here, I keep typing AI and I AM over and over and I find that quite telling. Maybe our focus is being fractured by AI aspects of the matrix that we call the real world. They don’t want us to focus on what we want. They want us to focus on what ‘they’ want. Because it is in the focusing where all the power lies. We are magical manifestors. Haven’t you noticed? Take time to take notice.

Let me give you an example.

I had not been cross stitching for months and I had no motivation to stitch either. But I knew I wanted to. But nothing seemed to be able to motivate me onward toward my goal of getting may projects done. Then I discovered the groups on Facebook all centered on Cross Stitch. Everyone was talking about their projects, their WIPS, and as the days went on, I wanted to focus on my WIPS too. (WIP=Works In Progress)

Then I realized that stitchers were making Youtube videos. On Youtube they call their group: Flosstube. I had previously watched video after video of BookTube videos and found myself reading over 150 books that year. I even read 29 books in one month too. 

The lightbulb came on in my head. Focus. It’s all about focus. When I focus on what I love, what I love expands. The same happened with Flosstube. When I focused on these videos, my want of cross stitching grew by leaps and bounds. And the more I watched, scoured the Facebook groups… the more I wanted to work on my own projects. My WIP pile grew from 3 projects to 15. I even completed 16 projects in 2015 which was a ton more than the one or two from previous years.

So, the power is in your focus. Don’t let the AI of the matrix, the “they” powers of this world keep you from focusing in what is important to you.

There was a video I watched not too long ago called the Miracle Morning routine. I think the man who created it was named Hal Elrod. He found that the way to make a great day was to do certain things first thing in the morning.

Here is his way of magical focusing:

S: Silence. Take time to pray or just be silent for a certain period when you first wake up.

A: Affirmations. Create affirmations that will bring your focus on what you want to manifest. Want peace? Make peace affirmations. Want love? Make love affirmations. But word them as if they are already in your life.

V. Visualization. Take those affirmations and make them into magical daydreams where everything in your world goes right. Have you noticed that we all seem to visualize on the fear in our lives? That only make TPTB more powerful. They feed on fear. Focus what you love and bring love into your life instead of the fear.

E. Exercise. Get the blood pumping and make all those chemicals in your brain flood your body with the feel good you deserve.

R. Reading. Read a book, a blog, a note about what you love, what you want to bring into your life.

S. Scribing. This is journaling. Take time to put pen to paper and speak of what great things happened in your day or in what good will happen in your day. A life worth living is worth recording.

Do a search of videos on Youtube about the Miracle Morning. And see how this is revolutionizing people’s lives. When we focus on what we want, what we love, what we deserve instead of what we fear, we are made new.

Stop fracturing your focus and instead create a magical life. 

Blessings.

Progress of a WIP: Autumn Fraktur by Plum Street Samplers

I have been working on Autumn Fraktur since May 30th, 2015. This cross stitch reproduction design is by Plum Street Samplers and has been a real joy to stitch. I am stitching it on 36 ct. Antique Buttercream Linen. I guess this would have qualified as an entry in 2015's Stitch Maynia which is though a Facebook group run by Garrett (Coffee Stitcher) and Katie (The Stash Queen).

I am calling this Progress of a WIP so you can see how the design grows as I stitch it. And if you didn't know, WIP stands for Work In Progress.

I did work on it a bit in 2015 but I think I have done most of my progress in May of 2016.

I found most of my photos in my Facebook feed and so I want to thank them for keeping all my photos safe and in a place I can find them.

I must have had a big jump in progress here. Wee! I have to admit that I think the WIP stayed at this point just put away in my stash until May of 2016.

Making progress now. I had talked myself out of working on this many times because this fabric has very tiny holes. And my eyesight was straining to see it. Of course, allergy season didn't help matters any.

It is always nice to see progress and I was happy to get to this point.

Yep, there is the bird starting to appear.

All he needs is a head now.

Finishing up on that flower on top right.

Here is where I am now. I have completed the bottom waves and am now moving to the left side of the design. I hope to get this project finished in May 2016. I have worked on it every day in May thus far. The colors are really popping for me and I just love how they look with the fabric.

Bye for now. More progress in a different post when I get to the end.

Much love,

Toni

123 Stitch Haul

I really haven't spoken much on here about my love for counted cross stitch, but I thought I'd share with you my most recent 123stitch.com haul. 123stitch.com is a company located in Utah that has more than just stitchy stuff, as I like to call it. They also have scrapbooking, and other craft items too. So, definitely check it out if you are a crafter of any type, crochet, knitting... yep, they have it.

Left is Buttercup and right is Violet from the pixie collection by Nora Corbett

These patterns are designed by Nora Corbett and are a part of her pixie collection. They are smaller patterns than her big pretty ladies under the Mirabilia name. I like them because they are not so overwhelming to me and seem a lot easier to dig into as a stitcher. Definitely check out all the Nora Corbett patterns. They are definitely a favorite of mine.

As you can see in this pattern called Bubbles, I have all the floss (aka colored thread) for this project as well as fabric. It is peeking out from behind the pattern. We call that "kitting up" a project. That means I am all ready to go to start this whenever my stitchy bug gives me an itch for a new start.

Here are a few patterns I just wanted to add to my "stash". I think they are cute. I even purchased fabric for Sleepy Hollow and Get Kraken. Those are the two patterns on the bottom at left.

This photo is a bit blurry. Sorry about that. I have two of the seasonal banners from County Cottage Needleworks, an October calendar girl and two other patterns I thought were just cute and they fell into my shopping basket.

This Spruce Mountain Run has been in my stash since the beginning of my stitchy career. And I finally decided to buy some fabric for it. I am excited to start it soon. 

Hope you all have a great stitchy day.

Toni

Color overwhelm

Color Overwhelm

by Toni Walker

I have to admit that I am a lover of color. And I have fifty-ga-jillion pens in my collection to attest to it... not to mention an entire shoe box filled with colored pencils and a tub of skinny markers. Yes, I am that obsessed. I have even started succumbing to the new craze of "adult coloring."

Needless to say, color is where it's at for me. But even I, a color-loving person, can get color overwhelmed at times.

Kit I created for my Plum Paper Family Planner.

I created a kit a few weeks ago for my Plum Paper Planner. (Yep, I am a planner girl too. Name a fad, I am probably into it. I just like trying new things.) And this kit was a bright yellow-orange, green, light blue and pink creation. It was probably the most colorful kit I had made for my planner. That week, it worked for me, but as I look back on it now, I can literally feel the blast wave of color as I turn to that page. I squint my eyes as if looking into the sun... that is how much it effects me. I have included a picture here to show you the kit.

This reminds me of a time when I used to watch a show on Nickelodeon called House of Anubis. As I would watch the show, I was bombarded with so much color I felt like I might go blind. Man, is color powerful or what? The commercials were just too much (not to mention the music on them). They literally dripped with technicolor on every square inch of the screen.

So, what can we do when we experience this?

We can read. 

Most books are basically black and white and this will help to keep our color stress levels down. Maybe your body is trying to tell you something when you react to color in a big way. Red is a signal to our body when it has a security issue. It can increase our fear or stress. Orange is a color of creativity and nurturing. Yellow is a sunny color that enlists happiness and brings a clarity into our lives. Green is a color that is very soothing. But you need to watch the tones of color. An olive green might bring a more murky vibration than a spring green. Blue is a calming color. Pink is a color that can calm our nerves as well. I heard a story once about a football team that painted the away locker room in a specific color of pink. That pink acted on a subliminal level making the players feel not as pumped up as the would if the walls had been white or just beige.

We can go into nature.  

We can go outside and take a walk in nature. The color of our world is just perfect for our eyes and maybe your color overwhelm is due to being on your electronic devices a little too long. 

We can limit our color palette. 

For a few weeks I had to select two colors to work with on any spread in my planner so my color overwhelm wouldn't get too bad. 

We can turn off the tv and actually talk to the people in our lives. 

Don't worry, I am sure you can catch that missed program on Netflix or Hulu. 

That is all I can think of at the moment. 

You may even have some better ideas about how to not let color overwhelm your life. Of so, leave me a comment below. I love hearing from you. 

Have a colorific day! 

Choose To Be Kind ~ Do Not Fear

Choose To Be Kind ~ Do Not Fear

By Toni Walker

One Sunday morning not long ago I was driving to church and I had to cut through what many people consider to be the "bad part of town." I have never personally experienced anything bad but I have heard stories. I have a very good friend from this side of town. She is a self-proclaimed God girl who does Christian motivation and comedy. So, that part of town can't be all bad, right?

I was about to test this theory. 

As I was driving, I came across an older Blackman riding his bike. He had a grim expression on his face and I felt that momentarily pang of fear blossom in my chest. 

It was at this point I had a choice. Surrender to the fear and be afraid to go this way again or try something different. 

I chose to try something different. 

I chose to be kind instead and not surrender to my fear. 

I smiled and waved at the man. And then surprisingly he perked up with a big smile and gave me a giant full arm wave back. 

I didn't know him and he didn't know me. We were just two people from the same city passing each other on the street. Together we shared a brief moment of kindness that helped to heal a cracked part of my soul. 

I chose not to be afraid and it paid off. 

What have you been fearing to do or say or experience that might possibly change everything in your life?

A single action. A tiny step forward. That's how it starts, right?  I think we need to take more moments to be kind and more moments to step into our fear so we can experience the joys of this life. 

Kick fear in the face. Make today a great one. 

You have the power to take it slow

You Have The Power To

TAKE IT SLOW

Don't let others dictate your pace in life

by Toni Walker

Have you noticed how crazy life can be sometimes?

You start one thing and then when you've barely begun someone comes along and wants you to do something else. They want you to do something that they deem more important and urgent  Stuff like that really has the tendency to frazzle me especially when I am at work and already busy. 

I want to work at my own pace but other people have their own plans. Needless to say my own pace is pretty fast so I really don't appreciate when other people try to speed me up even faster. 

I know we live in a fast-food society and we want everything to be done instantly but everything in life can't be that way. We need balance. We need to step back and evaluate life once in awhile. Not everyone's agenda in life is more important than yours. 

I really don't know what the motivations are behind these people who continually disrupt us and prompt us to drop what we were doing and hurry up and do what they want.  We act as if what we were working on wasn't important (even if it was). We need to remember that our time is important and what we choose to focus on is important too. 

I think that what we do when we stop to do the supposed urgent task is that we think what they are handing us is indeed more important. Maybe it isn't. This is when we need to stop and reevaluate. What is the real priority here? 

I know when it comes to me I am projecting my feelings on their appearance on the scene and then both judging and labeling their motivations and behavior based on nothing except how they have interacted with me in the past. In a nutshell, it all comes down to me and how I react to the stimulus provided by people I come in contact with.  And just saying that shows me that I am truly the one in control of my own emotions. 

Wayne Dyer once said in a talk that if you're having trouble with someone have them come and see me and then you will feel better. So, I think we kind of fool ourselves into believing that someone else has control over us. And that is totally not true. They are not in your head. They are not you. I heard a statistic once that we say thousands and thousands of things to ourselves on a daily basis and that most of that chatter is of the negative variety. No wonder we drop what we are doing and jump on some one else's priority. We don't think that we are the priority. Heck, we tell ourselves that thousands of times a day. I am here to say that you are worthy. And your time is indeed important. Even if it is only ever important to you... That is enough. 

Nothing anyone can say can harm you... unless you let it pierce your soul. Every day you think you are not important you give those people who interrupt you permission to treat you badly. And most of the time, those people will jump at the chance. 

Take control of your life back!

You are the only person who can decide that you no longer want to multi-task and make some one else's want a priority. If you want to lead a slower paced life, take hold of that. Own it. So, when those people come up to you and want you to do something immediately ... decide that today you will write their request down and then get to it at a time when you are free to do it. And then at that time you can decide where this task lands on your own priority list. If you continue to let people dictate your time, the only person you are hurting is yourself. 

Blessings. 

Visions 2016 - Why I Live Here

I work at the local newspaper in my town. And during February we publish different stories about different counties that surround our little berg. And we call this conglomeration of stories Visions. We were asked this year to write about why we live where we live. 

Here is what I put forth...

Why I Live Here — CENTRALIA, IL

by Toni Walker

"Why I live here" is an interesting question to contemplate. I had never really considered it before. Why do I live here?

I live here because the people I have encountered in Centralia are the most awesome people in the world. Yes, our dear city has its crime, shady elements and whatnot but what city doesn't? I choose to look on the bright side and see all the goodness this city has to offer.

This is the city where I grew up. And with that comes a ton of great memories. I remember the snow in the early 80's when we were stuck at home and everyone in our neighborhood camped out at our house for days because we had the only working fireplace. My sister and brother made an igloo in the front yard and the snow was as high as the mailbox.

I live here because it is where I call home. This is where my parents live. My nieces and nephews, who don't even live here, call Centralia home too. There is a lure to this city that really speaks to people's hearts.

   Have you ever had the feeling that something was meant to be? I know I was meant to be here. I had a choice early in my life if I wanted to move to Chicago and I just had this knowing that this city was where I truly belonged.

   I went to Centralia High School and participated in the Centralia Cultural Society during my high school years. I was shy and drama club really brought me out of my shell. I learned how to be more of myself in my hometown while discovering my love for theater and music.

   Ever since the sixth grade I have been in some sort of choir or worship team and continue to do that until this very day. These days I sing alto in my church's worship team and have a solo every few months.

   A lot of people I know yearn to get away from wherever they live. Move to the big city. Experience life. I have experienced a great deal of life right here at home in Centralia, IL.

   I am a second timer here at the Sentinel. That means I have worked here at two different times in my life. In the late 80's/early 90's I worked for three years in the mailroom, paste-up and as an assistant to the ad staff laying out ads that were to be typeset into the Compugraphic machine.That's all old-school tech nowadays. 

   I work this time around as a graphic designer in what is called Composing. I design advertisements, send plates to the plate machine for different publications and am currently in charge of the TV Weekly that runs every Saturday in the Sentinel. 

I am a third-generation Sentinel employee. My great-grandmother set linotype, my dad was a paperboy and I have had quite a few different jobs here. It is so cool to know that I am a part of the Sentinel's legacy, even if only a small part.

Like I said, why I live here is an interesting question that I think we should all ponder. Ask yourself... why do you live where you do?

-- Toni Walker

I'm Obsessed ~ My Notebook Reality

I'm Obsessed ~ My Notebook Reality

Have you ever been obsessed by something cool or different? Maybe the latest fad has caught your attention and you just can't stop thinking about it. You think about it. Fantasize about it. Lust after it until you can't  stop yourself from buying it 

That's me. I've been there.

For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed by paper, pens, notebooks, journals, etc. Anything you can use where you put pen to paper and create something. I am not exactly sure what the true draw is because I now have so many notebooks that there is  no way I will ever use them all. But still I crave more.

It's a comfort thing. It makes me feel good in sort of the same way that mashed potatoes makes a carb addict feel good.

IMHO everyone needs an obsession. Some people buy shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc but my obsession of choice has always been pens and paper. When I was young I have a distinct memory of standing in Centralia Stationary and gazing longingly at a Pilot Fine Point ball point pen. Back then the only pens you'd ever really see were Bic pens. They had a medium point and that was the same thing everyone else had. The first time I used a Pilot fine point pen, I knew that this was the type of writing instrument I needed to use. It flowed so much better. It made my handwriting look better and it made me want to make my handwriting better too.

My other distinct memory was of buying notebooks from a 25¢ notebook machine that was in the main office of my junior high school. I loved looking at all the different covers of the one subject notebooks that came spitting out of the machine. They also had a pencil dispenser too. I bought a pen or a  notepad whenever I had some extra money and that indeed started my obsession, I am sure.

Notebooks and journals are not as expensive as they used to be. Now they are pretty cheap but back then they were mostly out of my price range. But now I buy them at my leisure. It feels good to buy them. I have had some journals where I was afraid to put pen to page because I didn't  have anything significant and good enough to write in them. Now I am more free to express myself in whatever notebook I choose.

What is your current obsession of the moment? I'd love to know.

Blessings.

God is the Captain of Your Cheering Section

God Is The Captain of Your Cheering Section

Have you ever had one of those weeks when you feel like nearly everyone in your world is against  you? Yeah, that was me last week. Around every corner there seemed to be yet another obstacle to overcome. I met every challenge and had a lot of success but I didn't get any of the credit for it by the people in charge. Yes, my immediate supervisor told me "good job." but the rest, it was all about the new guy who basically followed the general manager around and listened to him talk.

I had to remind myself that God is the captain of my cheering section. Sometimes the things of this world let us down, but God loves us. He knows our good works. He knows how much we have sacrificed and put into what we do day to day. He is there for us in our successes ... even if no one else acknowledges our contribution. God knows. And God is cheering us on to our next success. All we need to do is be still and listen to his guidance, read his word and realize that His love never fails.

Blessings.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.

Isaiah 58:11

Pineapple Plan With Me Weekly Layout

I don't know about you but I have been obsessed with watching all the Plan With Me Videos on YouTube. I don't care if they are planning in a Plum Paper Planner, Erin Condren, Limelife Planner, Passion Planner, Inkwell Press Planner or if they plan in Madori Travelers Notebooks, HappiDoris, ConfettiDoris, Fauxdori's or whatever else there is out there. This planner is a puncuate planner from Barnes and Noble and it only has a weekly layout. No monthly ones (which I think is weird).

I grew up with just a monthly layout to use when planning. And even when I got a planner that contained weekly layouts, I never used them. I relied mostly on my memory and the monthly view.

As I get older I see the reason for the weekly layout. Maybe it is just all the Plan With Me videos has pumped that notion into my head.

For this week's layout I  have decided on a pineapple theme. Since I am doing this in my work planner, I don't have access to washi tape. I found these images on Yahoo images and printed them out on one 8.5x11 sheet of paper. Then I cut them out and taped them down. (I did create the teardrops and bulleted list in Adobe Illustrator.)

I thought it turned out pretty cute. Not as professional looking as all those Plan With Me videos but it does serve my own purposes.

I hope you enjoyed my little spread. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Toni #ToeKneeDesigns (not a real hashtag but I thought it was clever.)

Your 6 Month Check-In for your January Resolutions

Welcome to your six-month check-in!

• How are you doing on your goals from January 1st?

• Do you find you still want the same things that you dreamed of at the beginning of the year.

• Instead of making resolutions about what really made your heart sing, did you make those "should-have" resolutions that come to you in the voices of your mother, father, brother, etc.?

I found myself making a lot of "should-have" resolutions like :

• "I should finish those old cross stitch projects" 

   (I actually did finish 2 of 3 projects that had been laying about.)

• "I should write so many episodes of my story." 

   (I have written a few things in my notebook but I think most of that was from last year.)

• "I should read more books than last year." 

   (I am 26 books behind at this point, I think)

I made goals that I didn't touch in the last six months and goals that I tackled right away. some of my goals have lost the fun and excitement that I originally had for them. I need to learn to enjoy the journey more and not just see these goals as check marks on a huge to-do list.

I used to enjoy coming up with stories. I had the fun in my mind. I joked and said... what can I make them do today that will drive them crazy? And now I take the route of least resistance. I know that I will have to type them in at some point since I write long-hand when I create stories. And that part alone seems daunting enough.

I ordered myself a new planner: Plum Paper Planner and  Monthly Notebook where I can schedule all the blog posts that I really need to be doing. "Another should goal?" I'll find out soon, I guess. I have practically abandoned all my blogs for the first 6 months of the year. I miss writing and journaling. I am attempting to make time to journal every night, if time permits. I have drowned myself in cross-stitchnig to calm myself down from my real job and that I think is just me hiding away from the world ... or in this instance, from myself.

One of my new goals is to get a real camera to film my videos with. Another is to learn to edit those videos and put in the cool effects I see others do. I want to inspire people to be their best selves and to follow their bliss in whatever way is best for me to do that whether it be doing oracle readings or writing stories.

I hope you have found a nugget of inspiration here and i hope you really take a look at all those goals you want to accomplish and see if they are really things you truly want to tackle to create  your best life.

Blessings.

2015 - Our Best Year Ever! Do Some Goal Setting With Me!

Setting goals is a really important thing we need to do at all times and not just at the beginning of the year. Maybe in 2015 you will resolve to get more organized, buy a planner, a calendar, or just write down what you need to do. It is a proven fact that if you write your goals down that you are more likely to accomplish them.

So, I want us to work together this year to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves and make 2015 a bang up, awesome, sparkly best year ever!

I was watching a video about how to make the most of 2015 and make it your best year ever. There are all sorts of organizing, planning and goal setting videos on YouTube. Just do a search and check them out. 

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself when contemplating your goals for 2015.

• What 3 things are you most proud of in 2014?
• What areas of my life do I excel in?
• What areas in my life need more attention?
• What 3 things can you improve on in 2015
• What do I need to stop or start in 2015 to accomplish my goals?
• What will be my word or words for 2015 that will describe how I will approach this next year?
• Explain a little about why you picked these words or word for 2015. What make that word work for helping you make your best year yet seem more achievable?
• What will I do to make sure my goals are achieved? Maybe add sticky notes to your planner and do quarterly check ins with yourself.

Check out this video to learn more about goal setting.

Creating Your Goals for 2015

I followed along with this video and I filled out my journal (see an excerpt below). I could not just decide on one word for 2015, and that's okay. Do what speaks to you. You know you better than anyone else. Below are my words for 2015 and my reasons for picking them. I thought I'd give you an example if you were stuck on this question.

 

Keep me updated about how your year is going. Let's check in with each other to make sure we stick with the goals that will help us accomplish our best year yet.

Make It A Great 2015!

~Toni